Levack keeps Lions flying high

GARSTON VETS LEAGUE
WINCHMORE HILL 1 LONDON LIONS 4

Two goals from man-of-the-match Alex Levack earned London Lions a comfortable 4-1 win at Winchmore Hill on their return to league action.

A cold and windy morning at Winchmore Hill wasn't enough to knock Lions out of their stride, the side eventually running out 4-1 winners thanks to goals from Adam Kaye, John Rayner and a brace from the outstanding Levack.

With the cross-wind more helping than not in the first half, it was strangely Lions who found it harder to settle. Although having more of the possession, perhaps the conditions took a little more getting used to than they thought as they too often surrendered the play cheaply and seemed a yard off their men allowing Hill to play their way out of tight spots a little too easily.

Hadley Silver and Tony Gold both worked decent crossing opportunities, but with the wind Silver's drifted beyond the far post, Gold's against the breeze failing to make the mark. In fact the first real chance came Hill's way, their pacy forward driving through on goal, his fierce low strike bringing out the very best of Dan Jacobs.

On the break the hosts continued to be a threat, but the back four, Rayner in particularly good form, stood up to them well, while behind them Jacobs' handling was assured ensuring they didn't get the crucial first goal.

Levack and Matt Kleinman began to get Lions back in control, and a well-worked move between the two and full back Marc Greene ended with Silver bursting through on goal, but having seemingly done the hard work in rounding the keeper he neither crossed nor shot and the ball went wide.

The lead they had been craving though came soon after and in some style. Levack won the ball on half way, drove forwards before unleashing a rasping drive from fully 30 yards that found the net via the underside of the bar.

Lions pushed to take a more significant lead into the break, but the closest they came was via Max Radford's strike that the keeper couldn't hold, Pearl following up was denied by a brave block, Kaye turning the loose ball wide.

With the stiffening breeze now very much against them they knew they'd have to defend well. A cause not helped when a tight hamstring left Andy Myers unable to take to the field for the second period. Greene dropped into centre half, Gold to left-back, with Lazard and Rayner as they were.

But the half couldn't have started any better as within five minutes they doubled their lead as Kleinman robbed the ball high up, slipped it through to Kaye who drilled the ball home literally through the keeper from the edge of the box.

As expected, Hill mounted somewhat of an assault, but the midfield three battled hard to provide protection while the side always looked a threat on the break. Kaye and Silver both had decent chances to put the game beyond their hosts but couldn't apply the finishes their good build up play deserved, meaning Hill remained very much in it.

Greene then injured his groin, his replacement Dan Reuben doing the same to his hamstring as Lions began dropping like flies. The side though defended admirably but still needed Jacobs to be at his best with three fine saves.

Having ridden the storm they broke once more, a move that ended with Silver being bundled over in the box, allowing Levack the chance to net his second from the spot which he duly did.

A three-goal lead was too big to turn round, the last 10 minutes thus comfortable enough for the visitors. The offside flag for the 20th time denied Silver a goal, but the fourth duly arrived in the closing stages. Having run the length of the pitch to get in on the action, centre back Rayner was on hand to tap home after Radford's effort came back off the bar.

But the clean sheet that should have been theirs was carelessly given away with virtually the last kick as Lions got caught out with men committed upfield, a simple tap in for the striker who was afforded the freedom of the Lions box, much to Jacobs' frustration.

Still, few complaints at a 4-1 away win, although the side could be counting the cost in the weeks to come with three or four more injuries picked up on top of the long-term absentees. Still, it's only Bushey next week!